Cosmos 968

NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 1977-119A

Description

The lowest level of the three-tier communications satellite constellation is now populated with two distinct systems devoted to military and government communications. Both systems are assessed to be simple store-dump repeaters which were particularly useful in relaying non-essential traffic between the Russian Federation and overseas stations of forces. The first Strela (which means "Arrow" in Russian) system debuted in 1970 and consisted of 750 - 1000 kg satellites deployed at mean altitudes of 800 km in three orbital planes inclined 74 degrees to the equator and spaced 120 degrees apart. These Strela 2 spacecraft were launched separately by the Kosmos launch vehicle from the Plesetsk cosmodrome into each orbital plane at intervals of 24-36 months. The activity of these satellites could be monitored via a characteristic CW beacon emitted on a frequency of 153.660 MHz.